Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hasan scored half-centuries to help Bangladesh post a competitive 186-5 in the second T20 International against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Tanzid struck 58 off 44 balls, while Saif made 55 off 45, giving Bangladesh a strong start after being asked to bat first.
Strong Start
Zimbabwe's captain aimed to use early moisture to unsettle Bangladesh, but the calculated aggression from Tanzid and Saif thwarted his plans. Saif, who struggled initially, survived five dismissals before being out for 55, an innings that included eight fours and one six. Their partnership of 120 runs is the second-highest opening stand for Bangladesh, only behind Rony Talukdar and Liton Das's 124 against Ireland in 2023.
Late Flourish
After Saif's dismissal, Tanzid lost concentration and was removed by Richard Ngarava in the next over for 58, featuring six fours and three sixes. Zimbabwe's Ngarava and Brad Evans then claimed crucial wickets, reducing Bangladesh to 137-4. However, Yasir Ali and Mohammad Saifuddin provided a late flourish with a 45-run partnership off 19 balls, lifting Bangladesh to 186-5. Saifuddin's unbeaten 31 off 10 deliveries included four consecutive sixes in the final over from Evans.
Ngarava and Evans each claimed two wickets for Zimbabwe, although Evans had a difficult outing, conceding 65 runs from his four overs—the most expensive bowling figures by a Zimbabwe bowler in T20 International history.
